Screw-cutting die.



PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905.

J. J. MULLANEY. SCREW CUTTING DIE.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 6. 1905.

3 SKEETS-SHEBT 1 7 8140mm I moncw, u. aimum ca, MOIO-LIINOGRAPHERi wpsmxmon. a c,

No. 802,819. PATENTED OCT. 24, 1905. J. J. MULLANEY.

SCREW UUTTING DIE.

APPLICATION FILED mm; s. 1905 3 SHBE'TSSHEET 2.

PATENTED 00:17. 24, 1905.

J. J. MULLANEY. SCREW CUTTING DIE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1905.

3 SHEBTS-SHEBT 3.

ITIEII STATES PATENT JOHN J. MULLANEY, OF MAY WOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO IDEAL OPENING DIE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SCREW-"CUTTING DIE.

Patented Oct. 24, 1905.

Application filed June 6, 1905. Serial No. 263,922.

To all mite/7t it In/(L concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MULLANEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at May wood, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screw-Cutting Dies, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to screw-cutting dies, and more particularly has reference to mechanism of the type wherein the dies or chasers are controlled by a cam upon disengagement of the die-head from the stock.

The object of the invention generally is the provision of means whereby a thread can be accurately cut when the work and the die do not exactly aline by providing means for operating the die-head at any desired degree of eccentricity through a connection which involves no lost motion or looseness of parts.

So far as I am aware it has not been heretofore proposed to provide a universallymounted die in which the die-head and stock are disconnected to expand the dies; and a further object of the invention is the provision of such adriving connection constructed to insure reengagement. This universal releasable connection comprises a laterally-movable clutclrring interposed between the shank and diehead and permitting independent movement of the die-head in a direction at right angles, the movement of the ring being at all times controlled by the movement of the the head or other part. I have shown this releasable driving connection applied to ascrewcutting die wherein the dies are controlled by rotation of the die-head relatively to a stationary earn, the cam being mounted to have a universal movement coincident with the diehead. The invention also contemplates the provision of means for adjustably oscillating the cam relatively to the dies for positioning the dies to take two cuts with one adjustment.

Other features of the invention reside in the resetting mechanism, the mounting of the dies, and in the arrangements and combina tions of the various parts, all of which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of my 1111- proved die. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a frontview. Fig. 4c isa detail view l l i showing a different position of Fig. 1 for taking a second out. Fig. 5 shows one of the dies or chasers. Fig. 6 shows the die-head. Fig. 7 is a rear view of the die-head. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section at right angles to Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a front view of the clutoh ring for the die-head. Fig. 10 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the attachment of the clutch-ring to the stock. Fig. 11 is a similar view showing a modified construction. Fig. 12 shows the connecting-ring between the die-controlling cains and the stock. Fig. 13 shows the adjusting means for regulating the depth of out. Fig. 14 shows the ring upon which the die-eontrolling devices are mounted. Fig. 15 is a section showing the die-head and stock in disengaged position. Fig. 16 is a cross-section on the line 16 16 of Fig. 15. Fig. 17 is a detail view of the lever and cocentric, and Fig. 18 shows the compressed position of the expanding-spring when the dies are set.

1 represents a tubular stock, which is attaohed to the turret or chuck in the usual manner. The stock has its forward end enlarged and a transverse groove 2 therein, which is adapted to engage the lugsS of a transverselymovable clutch-ring 1. (Shown in detail in Figs. 9, 10, and 11.) In Figs. 9 and 10 the ring 4 is attached to the stock by a springclip 5, fittingin a circumferential groove 6 in the stock and having extensions 7 which fit into notches 8 in the ring 1, thereby holding the ring attached to the stock, but permitting the ring to slide transversely of the stock without any loose play. In Fig. 11 the clip may be dispensed with by a T-slot or dovetail to secure the ring to the stock, as shown at 9. In the front face of the ring and at right angles to the lugs 3 are slots 10, which are engaged by the studs 12 of the die-carrying head 11, which lit closely in the grooves without any loose play. The die-head comprises a tubular shank 25 and the body portion having slots 13,111 which the dies are mounted. 15 is a bearing-flange on the rear face of the die-carrying head for controlling the lateral movements of the die-operating cams. It will be seen that the die-head 11 thus has a universal lateral movement rela tively to the stock 1, because of the lateral movement of the ring 4 in one direction and the lateral movement of the studs 12 in the slots 10 at right angles thereto, entirely irrespective of any looseness of fit between the parts.

Each die or chaser, Fig. 5, comprises a broad base portion 17, which slides on the bottom face of the slots 13, a notch 18, and the cutting-teeth 19.

is a resetting-lever, which will be set into either of the holes 21 22 in the die-head 11, according as right or left hand threads are to be cut. The dies can thus cut a thread of the desired diameter, whether their aXis coincides with that of the work or not, because of the universal movement permitted by the ring 4. Inasmuch as the dies are controlled by rotating them relatively to a stationary cam, this cam mechanism should have provision for universal movement coincident with that of the dies. This mechanism I will now describe in connection with the description of the die-controlling mechanism itself, reference being had to Figs. 2, 3, 8', and 15. The dies 14 are each controlled by a cam 26, which engages in the grooves 18 of the dies. The cams 26 are formed on the rear face of a plate 27, having an opening 28 and flange 29. 30 is a universallymounted carrier,in which the cam-ring 27 is secured by screws 31. By simply removing the ring 27 the dies can be removed from the head 11 and others substituted without necessitating disarrangement of the other parts. This is an important practical advantage of my construction, which has not been so simply attained heretofore. Another important advantage of this arrangement of the cam and dies is that the rear face 17 of the dies. on which the greatest vices where the dies are actuated by cams.

which engage in notches cut in the rear face, and it has been attempted to overcome this by increasing the length of the dies. This expedient only partially overcomes the difficulty and is objectionable because the outside diameter of the mechanism is necessarily in-' creased. By mounting the dies as 1 have herein described these objections are overcome, and I also dispense with the use of splines for the dies, as well as reduce the outside diameter of the whole mechanism. The cam-carrier 30 and the ring 27 form the outside casing, within which the chasers are contained. As will be seen, the carrier 30 is substantially tubular in form, havingachannel 33 and aflange 34,which fits within the flange 15 of the chaser-head 11, forming a bearing for the latter as it is revolved, the engagement of these two flanges also causing the cam-carrier 30 and the cams to follow the universal movements of the head 11, as caused by any eccentricity of the work. l lay the opening of the dies.

The internal diameter is greater than that of the ring 4, so that the latter can have free movement laterally of the stock, as before described. function to the ring 4. 36 36 are elongated slots, through which pass headed tuds 37, tapped into the rear end of the carrier 30. 38 38 are elongated slots at right angles to the slots 36, through which pass headed studs 39 and 40. The stud 40 is tapped into an adjusting-ring 42, Fig. 14, which is mounted on the stock 1, so as to be capable of an oscillatory movement. The outside flange of the ring 42 is long enough to cover the ring 35 and to overlap the rear end of carrier 30 and of sufficient diameter to permit the carrier 30 and the ring 35 to have the desired universal movement. The stud 39 instead of being tapped into adjusting-ring 42 isrotatably mounted therein, being pinned thereto by a handle 43, which screws into the stud 39. 44 is a slot, in which the handle can be rocked to turn the stud 39. On the rear end of stud 39 is an eccentric 45, which engages an adjustable slotted nut 46, mounted in a slot 47 of a graduated collar 48. The collar 48 abuts against collar 42 and is held against rotation on the stock 1 by a pin 49, which engages a keyway 50.

52 52 are slots in which the ends of the studs 37 are contained. 53 represents resettingsprings which hold the carrier 30 against the ring 35. The collar 42 is held between the head of the stock and the nut 55, which latter is threaded on the stock 1 and locked by a setscrew 56.

I will now explain the operation of the mechanism as thus far described, assuming the parts in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8. In this position the dies are closed and locked ready to thread the work. The feed having been started, the cutting of the thread continues until the feed is stopped, whereupon a further rotation (either of the work or the die) withdraws the studs or driving-pins 12 of the head 11 from the slots 10 of the clutchring 4. Because of the engagement of the dies and the'work the head 11 and the dies carried thereby are rotated relatively to the cams 26, (see Fig. 15,) thus expanding the dies and disengaging them from the work. (See dotted position in Fig. 3.) As the head 11 moves outward it also moves the ring 27 and carrier 30 outward, compressing springs 53, as shown in Figs. 15 and 16, which also show the driving-studs 12, bearing on the surface of the clutch-ring 4, the dies being expanded. The dies are thus always fully engaged with the cams and controlled thereby and do not partially disengage from the cams in expandmg.

Inasmuch as the resetting-springs 53 are quite strong, they cause considerable friction between the studs 12 and the surface of the clutch-ring 4, which in some cases would de- In order to over- 35, Fig. 12, is a ring similar in I a it come this friction and also to provide means which will positively open the die independently of the engagement of the dies with the work, I provide a spring 60, disposed in the channel 33 of the cam-carrier 30 and hearing at one end on a lug 61,carried by the head 11, and at the other on a pin 62 in the carrier 30. Fig. 18 shows the compressed position of the expanding-spring when the dies are closed and locked, and Fig. 16 the expanded position after the studs 12 have disengaged from the slots of the clutch-ring. Where four dies are used, as shown herein, a rotation of forty-live degrees will give the maximum expansion of the dies, and if three are used the rotation may be as great as sixty degrees. The resetting handle moves through the slot 32 in the carrier 30, and the rotation of the head 11 is limited by the length of the slot 32. In cutting right-hand threads the resetting-lever is set in hole 21 of the diehead 11, Fig. 1, and in expanding moves downward to. the lower end of slot 32. To reset the dies, the lever is moved against spring 60 until the studs 12 can be pulled into the slots 10 by springs 53 or pushed in by hand if the springs are not used. This forms a very quick and semi-automatic resetting mechanism. In cutting left-hand threads the lever would be in hole 22 and would move upward in Fig. 1. The drawings all show positions for right-hand threads; but the only changes necessary for cutting left-hand threads would be to use a different set of dies, to reverse the position of the spring 60 in Fig. 18, and to change the lever 20 to hole 22 in the die-head 11. The provision of the resetting and expanding springs renders the operation of the die more convenient and in some instances increases the speed of operation. It will be understood, however, that the resettingsprings and the expanding-spring 60 can both be dispensed with, if desired, without interfering with the operation of the die mechanism. In this case the studs 37 will be somewhat shorter. so as to prevent outward movement of the diehead and carrier further than to disengage the studs 12 from the clutchring L. The rotary movement of the diehead caused by the engagement with the work in actuating the dies will be limited as before by the slot 32 and the resetting-lever 20.

By reference to Fig. 9 it will be observed that the hole through the clutch-ring 4 is elongated, the horizontal diameter in Fig. 9 being greater than the vertical diameter. Inasmuch as the die-head 11 and its shank 25 have a transverse movement in one direction independently of the ring 4, the internal dianieter of the ring in this direction must be suflicient to permit the maximum movement of the shank. In the direction at right angles to this that is to say, vertically in Fig. 9 if the ring 4 be permitted to have movement independently of the shank 25 when the studs 12 are out of slots 10 the studs 12 will not fall into the slots 10 in resetting unless their diameter substantially coincides with the diameter through theslots 10. For instance, after the studs are brought back in resetting untiltheir diameter is parallel to but not coincident with the slots 10 the studs may overhang the slots, but cannot fall in until the diameters coincide unless there was a loose lit between the studs and the slots. In order to insure that these diameters will coincide, so that the stud 12 will necessarily fall into the slots 10 at any position of eccentricity, the IIIOVGIDGHC of the ring 4 must always be controlled by the diehead. This I accomplish by making the short diameter of the ring substantially equal to that of the shank 25, so that the ring cannot move independently of the shank in a direction which would prevent the studs 12 from registering with the slots 10. It thus insured that the ring will only move coincidently with the shank and to the degree necessary to secure engagement. This construction I consider an ii'ln'iortant feature of this invention, since if the die-head cannot be made to lock quickly at any degree of eccentricity of work and die without manipulation the practical usefulness of the invention is largely impaired. lVith this construction the ring is always moved laterally to a degree suflicient to enable the studs 12 to drop into the slots 10. I can thus do away with all loose-fitting driving connections between the stock and the ring and between the ring and the die-head and still secure universal movement of the die-head without any lost motion. I am also enabled to entirely disengage the die-head from the stock for expanding the dies by rotating them relatively to a stationary cam. This manner of operating the dies has several advantages in practice, because the mechanism required is much more simple and less liable to disarrangement than in those devices wherein a cam is tripped and rotated to expand the dies.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby with a single movement of a lever a roughing cut may first be taken and the parts then shifted so as to take a linishing cut. This result I. accomplish by providing means for oscillating the cams, and thereby corrcs tiondingly moving the dies to the desired degree. By oscillating the adjusting-ring 412 the ring 35 will also be oscillated through studs 39 and 40 striking the sides of slots 38. Any movement of ring 35 will also move the cam-carrier 30, and with it the cams 26, through studs 37, which latter are free to move in slots 52 of graduated collar 4:8. In order to accomplish this, the eccentric 4L5 and nut 46 are provided. The nut 46 is threaded on a screw 66, which has hearings in the graduated collar &8. Since the collar cannot move because it is keyed, by turning the eccentric through lever 13 the ring 42 will be moved, and consequently the cams 26 and the intermediate parts. The dies can thus be adjusted to give a roughing cut at one extreme of the lever 43, while at the other position the finishing cut will be taken. By adjusting the nut the diameters-of the two cuts will be controlled. This arrangement of the tangential screw 66, carrying the sliding nut 4&6, forms a very effective adjustment for regulating the position of the dies, and thereby the depth of out. It will be seen that the use of set-screws is obviated without rendering the parts liable to work loose and destroy the adjustment. The adjusting ring or collar 42 may have an indexline 68 and the graduated collar 48 a scale 69, as shown in Fig. 1, the latter being suitably marked with divisions indicating positions for right and left hand threads of varying diameters above and below the standard line marked O.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a universally-mounted die-head which will have a universal movement without involving loose driving connections and also that I have provided means which will always insure reengagement of the driving connections at any position of eccentricity. I have also provided a screw-cutting die in which the dies are controlled by relatively stationary cams, the whole being mounted to have universal movement on the stock. The dies may be automatically opened upon disengagement of the stock and die-head and will be automatically reengaged and locked by simply rotating the die-head to resetting position.

Modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and 1 do not restrict myself to the precise construction I have shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, 1 declare that what I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is

l. The combination with a stock, of a diecarrying head rotatable with respect thereto. a releasable universal connection between said head and stock, said head being movable axially to release said connection, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a stock, of a rotatably-mounted die-head carrying expansible dies, a releasable universal connection between the die-head and stock, and die-expanding means arranged to be rendered effective by the rotation of the die-head when said universal connection is released, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a stock, of a diehead capable of relative rotation, means rendered effective by said rotation to expand the dies, a universal connection between said stock and die-head including separable interlocking parts, and means for guiding said interlocking parts to permit reengagement when released, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a stock, of a rotatable die-head, means rendered effective by said rotation to expand the dies, a universal connection between said stock and die-head including separable interlocking parts, and means for guiding said interlocking parts to permit reengagement and locking of the dies when said die-head has been rotated to close the dies, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a stock and a head, of an interposed clutch member having interlocking formations at right angles to each other engaging said parts, said formations being constructed to permit universal movement and disengagement of one of said parts, and connections between said clutch member and the part which disengages constructed to prevent movement of the clutch member independently of said part when the latter is disengaged, substantially as described.

6. A releasable universal coupling including two relatively rotatable members, an interposed element, interlocking engagements between said parts and said element so constructed and arranged as to permit and constrain the movement of the interposed ele ment, and of the releasable member relatively thereto to paths intersecting each other, when said respective parts are engaged, and cooperating means arranged to guide the releasable member and said interposed element to permit reengagement after release, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a separable stock and a head, of an interposed clutch-ring, interlocking formations on the ring, head, and stock whereby said parts may be releasably engaged, said ring being mounted on one of said parts so as to permit transverse movement thereof, the other part having movement at right angles to that of the ring, means adapted to control the reciprocatory movement'of the ring to one path at all times, substantially as described.

8. The combination with an engaged part, of an engaging part connected therewith by universal driving connection including a reciprocable interengaging clutch member, means permitting the driving connection to be broken by longitudinal movement of said engaging part relatively to said engaged part, and means carried by the engaging part for controlling the reciprocation of said clutch member to one path so as to prevent independent movement of the latter when said parts are disengaged, substantially as described.

9. The combination with an engaged part, of an engaging part connected therewith by a universal driving connection comprising an interposed, transversely-reciprocable clutch member having interlocking formations engaging said parts, said respective formations being at right angles to each other, means permitting the driving connection to be broken by longitudinal movement of said engaging part relatively to said engaged part,and means carried by the engaging part for controlling the movement of said clutch member to its path to prevent independent movement of the latter when said parts are disengaged, substantially as described.

10. A clutch-ring having engaging formations in its opposite faces on diameters at right angles to each other, the interior dimension on one of said diameters being greater than that on the other, substantially as described.

11. The combination with an engaged and an engaging part, of an interposed clutch member constructed to form a universal interlocking driving connection between said parts, means permitting disengagement of the driving connection between the clutch member and said engaging part, and means for preventing lateral displacement of the engaging diameters when parallel, to permit reengagement, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a stock and ahead carrying collapsible dies, of a releasable driving connection between said stock and said die-head, means for rotating the stock relatively to the die-head to expand the dies upon release of said driving connection, and a spring for automatically resetting and locking the dies, upon rotating the die-head, substantially as described. 7

13. The combination of a stock, a member universally coupled to said stock and carrying die-opening means, a die-head carrying dies journaled-in said member and having independent releasable universal connection with said stock, said die-head being movable longitudinally to release said connection and independently rotatable to expand the dies,

substantially as described.

14. The combination with a stock, of a diehead carrying collapsible dies mounted to move longitudinally and to rotate, means for locking the die-head and stock to prevent relative rotation, and means movable longitudinally by the die-head but held against rotation to expand the dies upon rotation of the die-head after being released, substantially as described.

15. The combination with a stock, of a diehead carrying collapsible dies mounted to move longitudinally and to rotate, means for locking the die-head and stock to prevent relative rotation, and yieldingly-moun ted means movable longitudinally by the die-head but held against rotation to expand the dies upon rotation of the die-head after being released, substantially as described.

16. The combination with a die-head carrying dies, of an oscillatory die-actuating earn, an eccentric pivoted to oscillate with said cam, a reciprocable nut mounted so as to be held against rotation and engaged by said eccentric for varying the angular position of the cam relatively to the dies, a screw for moving and locking said nut, and means for turning and locking the eccentric to take roughing and finishing cuts, substantially as described.

17. The combination with a stock, 01" a connecting member slidably mounted transversely thereon. a die-head having expansible dies and resiliently connected with said stock so as to slide on said connecting member in a direction at right angles to the movement of the connecting mem her on the stock and to rotate relatively thereto, and a universal connection between said die-head and the stock releasable upon outward movement of the die'head from the stock to permit expansion of the dies by rotation of the die-head, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN J MULLANEY. Witnesses:

JULIAN S. VVOOSTER, Geo. A. IIOFFMAN. 

